Frequently Asked Questions

A. Home Sale Online (HSO UK Ltd) is the new and improved way to market your property in Scotland. We are a Scotland wide, fixed fee online estate agency who offer a low cost alternative to selling your property. As part of the ritepropertygroup we are able to combine resources and provide services to our clients at fair and honest value

Q. What's the difference between using us and a traditional high street estate agent?

A. We provide exactly the same services you would receive from a conventional high street estate agent. The prime difference is that we do not charge the excessive fees that go with it. We charge based on the options you choose and on commencement of our services. We do not charge you any further fees whatsoever during your sale or on completion. We are truly an online estate agency and our pricing reflects this. We do not expect you to pay for the upkeep of our chain of expensive high street branches.

Q. How can we offer such competitive prices?

A. We offer sales and marketing in 3 affordable packages based on only the services you wish to receive. Our costs are fixed regardless of the size or price of your property. We don't believe that commission is fair value. As we operate from central offices and are an online company, we do not have the overheads found with a conventional high street estate agent which means that we can offer you exactly the same service and more, but at a reasonable fee.

Q. Are there any hidden costs when selling my property with Home Sale Online?

Q. What's the first step if I decide to market my property with Home Sale Online?

A. Please take a moment to browse this website and understand the service and packages that we offer. Once you have decided on the package that suits you best, please complete an order request via this website. You have then taken the first step to selling your home with Home Sale Online.

Q. Do I require a Home Report?

A. Yes, if you are selling in Scotland, you will require a Home Report. The Home Report is a legal requirement when selling your property. You will be unable to advertise the property until the Home Report is complete & available.

Q. Do you carry out Home Reports?

A. We do not carry out Home Reports directly, however we have negotiated very competitive rate from a national Chartered Surveying company to carry out Home Reports for our clients.

If you would prefer to arrange your own Home Report, you are free to do so.

Our Home Reports DO include a Mortgage Valuation Report for the price quoted.

Q. Why do I need a Home Report to market my property in Scotland?

A. On December 1st 2008, the Scottish Government introduced the Home Report. Under this legislation, any property brought to market must have an accompanying Home Report. The Home Report is intended to provide interested buyers with detailed information about a property before they consider submitting an offer.

Q. Do I need to refresh a mortgage valuation before I sell my property?

A. The Home Report we recommend DOES include a Mortgage Valuation Report.

Please be aware, for lenders, Mortgage Valuations are normally valid for 12 weeks from the date of being carried out.

Q. What if I need to cancel my appointment?

A. There are no cancellation charges providing you advise us notice within 7 days of booking your appointment.

Less than 24 hours noticeIf our Surveyor/Agent is due to attend the following day and you cancel your appointment then a cancellation fee of £50.00 will apply.

On the day cancellationIf you decide to cancel your appointment on the day then a cancellation fee to the value of 50% of your package cost will be applied.

Q. When do I have to provide a Home Report?

A. The Home Report must be complete when the property is brought to market. It is illegal to market your property in Scotland without having a completed Home Report compiled by a Chartered Surveyor. We will not commence advertising until your Home Report is completed and available to us.

Q. How old can the Home Report documents be when the house is put on the market for sale?

A. The Home Report cannot be more than 12 weeks old when the house is brought on the market.

Q. Does the Home Report have a specified end date?

A. The Home Report has no end date. Certain parts of the Home Report can be updated depending on the circumstances of the seller, purchaser and professional advisers.

Q. When will my property appear on your own website and partner sites/portals?

A. Once your property advert has been completed, you will be sent a draft just to ensure that you are happy with it.

Once the property advert is approved and your Home Report is available, your property will be made live within 3 working days.

Q. How are property viewings arranged?

A. The prospective viewer will complete the viewing request form on the property listing page. They will need to provide three prospective dates/times which are suitable. This will come through to us & we will screen the enquiry & forward to the vendor (via email and text message) who will respond via their account and indicate if these dates/times suit. The vendor will be responsible for confirming and carrying out their own viewings.

Q. How long can I market my property with you for?

A. All packages give you 12 months advertising. If you wish to extend your advertising with us, you can do so for a set fee.

Q. How are offers dealt with?

A. We will handle any offers, closing dates and notes of interest from potential buyers or negotiate on your behalf, discussing the details with you every step of the way.

Q. What are the advantages of selling your property with Home Sale Online?

A. There are a wide range of advantages to selling with Home Sale Online, most notably:

• Online login / accountYou will be provided with login details to our website. Within your account you will be able to monitor the status of your property sale. All viewing & home report requests will be noted as will any other property activity. Email updates will be sent to you whenever there is activity with your property.

• Maximum exposure on leading property sitesYour property will be given prime exposure on a wide range of property websites and portals including Rightmove, Zoopla, S1Homes, PrimeLocation, Google and many more.

• No exit feesThere is no exit fees should you wish to terminate your contract with Home Sale Online. We believe in complete transparency and have no hidden costs.

• Photos, measurements and descriptionAs part of our home visit appointment, we will take photographs and measurements of your property. Our intention is to show buyers all areas of your property, to help them get a feeling of the internal layout and condition of your home and much much more.

Please note, only new clients from 1st March 2014 (who have paid under our new pricing structure) will be advertised on Rightmove.

Q. Do I need to sell via a Traditional High Street Estate Agent?

A. No! If your property is reasonably priced and in good condition, then there is a good chance that your property will sell quickly. Home Sale Online will guide you through the whole process and ensure that your property is given maximum exposure via the web - without the excessive fees.

Q. Why do you charge an up-front fee?

A. The up-front fee goes towards marketing properties on the Internet. Our packages are tailored to suit everyone and it's up to you to decide which option suits you best.

Q. What should I do, if I experience any technical problems with the site?

A. If you experience any issues whatsoever with the website, please email us through your account and our customer support team will assist.

Q. Is there any difference in the service you provide with each package?

A. There is the same amount of online coverage & service; whichever package you opt for.

Q. Are my personal details secure if I decide to sell with you?

A. Your personal details are kept private and confidential. We do not release your details at any stage to anyone.

Q. What are your office opening hours?

A. We are predominantly an online estate agent, therefore our system is available to you 24 hours, 7 days a week, however our office working hours can be found below:Monday - Thursday: 9am - 5:30pm, Friday: 9am - 4:00pm

Q. Which areas do you cover?

A. We cover the vast majority of Scotland. Complete our online quotation form (on this page, right hand side) to determine if your area is covered.

Home Sale Online is a trading style of HSO UK Ltd. HSO UK Ltd is a Limited Company registered in Scotland with company number SC496909. Our office address is The Property Hub, 350 Glasgow Harbour Terraces, Glasgow, G11 6EG.